FC London will affiliate its organization with Major League Soccer’s Toronto FC.

“We are now accepted as a CAP’s program (club affiliation program,)” said FC London president and CEO Ian Campbell. “That means we have access to (Toronto FC) coaching, curriculum and players for future promotions for the club.”

FC London will not be a direct farm club for Toronto FC.

“But Toronto FC would like us to point talented players in the direction of their academy program,” Campbell said.

The three teams in the MLS, Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, all have academy programs where players who show promise reside, attend school and take advantage of the team’s coaching and training facilities on a full-time basis.

“It’s a big deal and if any of our players are good enough to be selected, it’s fantastic for them,” Campbell said.

This past weekend FC London, Toronto FC and Danone held a selection camp for players ages 7-11, with a chance for those players to appear in the Danone Nations Cup, billed as a World Cup for kids. More than 70 players registered but 210 showed up and participated in the evaluation camp.

“It was crazy, an unbelievable turnout,” Campbell said. “TFC took the names and now goes back and compares notes and anyone who has been selected will be contacted.”

As a soccer organization, FC London hasn’t stopped with their affiliation with Toronto FC. It plans to apply to what will be the newly formed OPDL (Ontario Player Development League.) This league hopes to provide an opportunity where top players in each city can showcase their talents. It’s a league for truly elite organizations, players and coaches. The league will eventually span all age groups but that will take several years.

Elite player development is the No. 1 goal of this league so clubs wanting to participate in the OPDL have to go through an onerous application process, especially at the coaching level.

FC London may be the only London soccer organization that will apply to play in the league.